Justice News

Bridgeport Man Charged with Sex Trafficking of 2 Minors

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging JASON PRAWL, also known as “Boots,” 28, of Bridgeport, with two counts of sex trafficking of a minor.

The indictment was returned on October 18, 2016. PRAWL appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.

As alleged in the indictment, PRAWL recruited, harbored and transported two minor victims to engage in commercial acts. PRAWL trafficked the first victim in July and August 2015 and the second victim between December 2015 and February 2016.

PRAWL has been detained in state custody since March 9, 2016.

The charge of sex trafficking of a minor carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

U.S. Attorney Daly stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Connecticut Human Trafficking Task Force, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Connecticut State Police, Bridgeport Police Department and Milford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarala V. Nagala and David E. Novick.